White House says it is braced for Iranian strikes on Israel within DAYS as carrier strike group and missile sub race to the region
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According to White House national security spokesman John Kirby, the US is preparing for an attack by Iran or its allies on Israel, which could happen as early as this week.
On Monday, he confirmed that the US is increasing its military presence in the region and said President Joe Biden has spoken to European allies about support for Israel.
The attack comes after Israeli officials said they would be targeted within days, in retaliation for the recent killings of top Hamas and Hezbollah leaders.
“We share the same concerns and expectations as our Israeli counterparts regarding the potential timing … could be this week,” Kirby said during a briefing call with reporters.
“We continue to watch it very, very closely and it is difficult at this point to determine whether there will be an attack by Iran or its allies, and what that might look like. But we have to be prepared for what could be a significant series of attacks.”
The Pentagon said Sunday that the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group had been ordered to accelerate its deployment to the Middle East
The region has been on edge since Israel killed a senior Hezbollah leader in Beirut last month. A day later, Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran.
Iran holds Israel responsible and has vowed revenge.
“We certainly don’t want Israel to have to defend itself against another attack, as they did in April. But if that is what they face, we will continue to help them defend themselves,” Kirby added.
On Sunday, the Pentagon announced it would send a guided-missile submarine to the Middle East and accelerate its deployment to the region through the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group.
On Monday, Biden spoke to the leaders of the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany and France amid mounting concerns.
“We expressed our support for the defense of Israel against Iranian aggression and against attacks by Iranian-backed terrorist groups,” the statements said.
“We called on Iran to refrain from the ongoing threat of a military attack on Israel and discussed the serious implications for regional security if such an attack were to occur.”
The US is preparing for an attack on Israel by Iran or its allies as early as this week, according to White House national security spokesman John Kirby.
Smoke clouds after the Israeli bombardment in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip on August 11, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and urged him to show restraint.
“The prime minister said he was deeply concerned about the situation in the region and called on all parties to de-escalate the situation and avoid further regional confrontations,” a spokeswoman said.
“There was a serious risk of miscalculation and now was the time for calm and careful consideration,” the prime minister said. He called on Iran not to attack Israel, adding that war was in no one’s interest.
The region was plunged into conflict on October 7 when Iranian-backed Hamas fighters attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people.
Since then, nearly 40,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.
Negotiations will resume this week to achieve a ceasefire and return the remaining Hamas hostages.